The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-04-28
Washington Letter.

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WASHINGTON, u. q, April %, 1887.
The week has been a quiet one ap-
parently in Washington, but when
one comes to think of it much of in
terest has transpired, and the Presi
dent, at least, can testify that drafts
upon his attention have been sufficient
to occupy every moment of his time
In the first place he reviewed the wet
bedraggled Emancipation parade,
which was we'll nigh Invested of all its
glory by torrents of rain. He accorded
a special reception to the Madison
square Theatre Co, and attended
their performance for the benefit OF
the ACTORS Fund.-" be made several
important appointments, had con-
ference with the new Pacific Railroad
Commissioners, who have arrived in
the city, and, never neglecting his tri
weekly handshakings for the public,
has been interviewed each day pri
vately, by a score or more of pnblic
men, politicians and friends.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion now occupy their permanentqusr
ters in handsome new building with
a white marble front, on F street. AT
last the Commission has decided upon
and appointed it's Secretary, Mr..
Mosely, who was found in Boston.
He is Democrat and a member OF
the Massachusetts, State Legislature
He is also a lumber merchant and has
had valuble experience in the railroad
business
The time of the Commission is taken
up with the consideration of the nu-
merous complaints and petitions be-
fore them. and with the reception of
visitors, the peti toner's and complain
ers who come in person. The Com
mission has been receiving letters on
all sorts of Irrelevant subjects from all
parts of the United States, and becom-
ing tired of answering conundrums
not arising frcm specific complaints
which the law authorizes them to con-
slider, they have just published state
ment of the Limits of their jurisdiction
and powers.
This important utterance of the
Commission, while it apparently
avoids the questions to which it ap-
plies, and refers the questioners to IT, e
railroads and courts for the prelimina
ry and ultimate constructions of th
law, points out the methods by which
such questions can come before them
and makes a suggestion, which, ii oil =
served, will prevent nety-nine out
of one hundred of such questions from
ever arising.
The fruitful cause of these conun-
drums is the attitude of the railroads,
which enforce vigorously, promptly
and literally everything in the law
that can possibly tend to swell their
revenues. endeavor to suspend or avoid
everything which can reduce the ir
charges, and fall into a panic-stricken
condition at the idea of running the
risk of penalty by giving liberal
construction to he clauses authorizing
reduced rates in certain cases. With
many of the roads the purpose is two
fold, to make money, and to create
discomforts which may be attributed
to the law, bringing to it if possible
unpOpularity and repeal.
commissioners say that there is
nothing novel in the provisions of the
law establishing the general principles
under which interstate commerce must
now be conducted. They simply bring
back the business of the common car.
riers to the well settled principles of
the common law.
Since 1 last wrote you Spring has
arrived in Washington, and with it
renewed interest in the National Drill
which takes place next month. Pre-
parations for the event are being car
ried briskly forward and it is learned ID
that some of the companies will arrive
considerably in advanc ce of the time of
the Encampment. The Monument
grounds are being put in readiness for
the camp. and grand stands are being
erected for spectators around the
ellipse on which the contest for prizes
will be held. Nearly one hundred or
ganizations will participate, and they
will come from almost every State in
the Union.
Some of the citizens of Washington
are completely frustrated over the en-
forcement of some old laws which it
was thought were so useless from dis
use that they could not be used. They
are the old Sunday closing laws, which
require that all places of business
where anything is done or sold for
profit, except apothecary shops and
undertaking establishments, shall be
hermetically sealed on the first day of
the week. The authorities have res.
urrected these laws from the statute
book which has been so long ignored,
and are enforcing them vigorously.
In view of the great influx of stran-
gers expected here during the time of
the National Drill, some earnest ap-
peals have been made by the leading
hotel proprietors and other public spir-
tied citizens for relief from the opera
tions of that ordinance against Sunday
shaving, passed, as they say, when
this extensive metropolis was nothing
more than a good sized country town.
western Cyclones.
FORT SCOTT, KAN, April 23.-The
town of Prescott, this county, was
wiped out of existence Thurs
day night. by cyclone, and not a